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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endorsement of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-Wide Conservation Plan.

“The Range-Wide Conservation Plan is an innovative collaboration that allows states, landowners, farmers, ranchers, and energy producers to work together to preserve habitat. It provides a framework to advance economic development and preserve private property rights while facilitating conservation for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken. This plan empowers state wildlife agencies, and provides an incentive for individual property owners in West Texas to preserve the habitat in their own backyard.

“I’m pleased that the Fish and Wildlife Service has endorsed this voluntary plan and determined that it meets the criteria for conserving the species. Given FWS support, the Range-Wide Conservation Plan should absolutely prevent the need to list the Lesser Prairie-Chicken. I strongly encourage the FWS to act quickly, and deliver a ‘not warranted’ decision on the proposed listing.”